[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 100 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 100

 To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 
 against vessels operating in the Caribbean Sea or the Eastern Pacific 
            Ocean that have not been authorized by Congress.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 17, 2025

 Mr. Gallego introduced the following joint resolution; which was read 
        twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 To direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities 
 against vessels operating in the Caribbean Sea or the Eastern Pacific 
            Ocean that have not been authorized by Congress.

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Congress has the sole power to declare war under 
        article I, section 8, clause 11 of the Constitution of the 
        United States.
            (2) Congress has not declared war or authorized the use of 
        military force with respect to any of the vessels in the 
        Caribbean Sea or the Eastern Pacific Ocean attacked by the 
        United States Armed Forces since September 2, 2025.
            (3) These maritime strikes beginning on September 2, 2025, 
        within the meaning of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 
        et seq.), are hostilities into which United States Armed Forces 
        have been introduced.
            (4) Pursuant to section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution 
        (50 U.S.C. 1544(b)), ``Within sixty calendar days after a 
        report is submitted or is required to be submitted pursuant to 
        section 4(a)(1) [of such Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1543(a)(1))], 
        whichever is earlier, the President shall terminate any use of 
        United States Armed Forces with respect to which such report 
        was submitted (or required to be submitted), unless the 
        Congress (1) has declared war or has enacted a specific 
        authorization for such use of United States Armed Forces, (2) 
        has extended by law such sixty-day period, or (3) is physically 
        unable to meet as a result of an armed attack upon the United 
        States.'' Sixty days have passed since the President notified 
        Congress of the actions described in paragraph (2), and no such 
        authorization or extension has been enacted.
            (5) Section 1013 of the Department of State Authorization 
        Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) provides that 
        any joint resolution or bill to require the removal of United 
        States Armed Forces engaged in hostilities without a 
        declaration of war or specific statutory authorization shall be 
        considered in accordance with the expedited procedures of 
        section 601(b) of the International Security Assistance and 
        Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (Public Law 94-329; 90 Stat. 
        765).

SEC. 2. TERMINATION OF THE USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES FOR 
              HOSTILITIES AGAINST VESSELS OPERATING IN THE CARIBBEAN 
              SEA OR THE EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN.

    (a) Termination.--Pursuant to section 1013 of the Department of 
State Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1984 and 1985 (50 U.S.C. 1546a) 
and in accordance with the provisions of section 601(b) of the 
International Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Act of 1976 
(Public Law 94-329; 90 Stat. 765), Congress hereby directs the 
President to terminate the use of United States Armed Forces for 
hostilities against vessels operating in the Caribbean Sea or the 
Eastern Pacific Ocean, unless explicitly authorized by a declaration of 
war or specific authorization for use of military force.
    (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from an 
armed attack or threat of an imminent armed attack.
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